Pressing machine



April 1930- E. E. CLEMENTS 1,756,452

PRESS ING MACHINE Filed July 15, 1927 INVENTOR faye/zetilemmis; BY 4' I I f I 4 I Patented Apr. 29, 1938 srares ATEN Price EUGENE E. GLEMENTS, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE L. CANDEE AND COMPANY, OF NEV HAVEN, CGNNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT I PRESSING Application filed July 15,

This invention relates to pressing machines, and more particularly to a machine for applying pressure to rubber foxing after it hasbeen placed in position on a shoe.

The foxing is usually in the form of a rubber strip which extends around the shoe upper adjacent the sole and serves to more strongly unite the sole and upper, particularly in the case of a fabric upper. It also Waterproofs the lower part of a fabric upper and protects it against scufiing in use.

Heretofore it has been the common practice to apply the foxing strip to the shoe and then subject the strip to the action of a hand roller to effect the desired adhesion betwen the strip and the shoe portions, but this consumes considerable time, the adhesion is not uniform, and in the case of white goods the handling increases the soiling. With fabric uppers it is particularly diflicult to obtain good adhesion.

It is one of the objects of this invention to overcome the foregoing difliculties and to provide means for applying to the foxing strip a substantially uniform and normal pressure simultaneously throughout its entire length and width, thereby obtaining uniformity in adhesion and consequent evenness in the finished product. Another object is to provide a compact, simple, rapid and economical apparatus for pressing shoe foxings or similar parts.

The invention comprises broadly a resilient body having an interior opening approximatelyof the size and contour of the article or portion to be pressed, means'for circumferentially exerting pressure on the body to contract said opening around an article to. be pressed, and means for constraining movement of said body to a plane substantially normal to the part to be pressed. The invention may also include means for exerting tension on the body to enlarge the opening when desired.

Other features and advantages will appear as the description proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the pressing machine embodying my invention;

Macrame 1927. Serial No. 205,916.

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross section of the machine; and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of the rubber pressure element.

Referring to the drawings which illustrate one practical example of my invention'as applied to pressing shoe foxings, the reference character 10 represents a flat, relatively thick block or ring of resilient material, preferably of softjvulcanizedor sponge rubber, having a central opening or pocket 11 conforming substantially to the outline of the lower side portions of a shoe. The ring 10 rests upon the smooth surface 12 of a bottom plate 13, circular in the present instance, having an annular sidewall 14 upon which there is supporteda circular cover 15 having a smooth interior surface 16 and also provided with a circular shoulder 17 which fits a complementary shoulder 18 of the plate 13, a gasket 19 being provided to seal the joint between the'shoulders. The depth of the side wall 14 is. such that the ring 10 has a snug sliding fit between the smooth surfaces 12 and 16, and the diameter of the circular side wall 14 is sufficiently greater than the diameter of the ring 10 to provide an annular space or chamber 20 completely around the ring. The. cover 15 has a central opening 21, abovethe opening or pocket 11 of the ring 10, of elongated shape and somewhat larger than the opening 11, and the cover may be secured to the platform 13 by any suitable means such as fasteners 22. V i In operation in thecase of a shoe larger than the opening 11 the air is first exhausted from the chamber 20, thereby permitting atmospheric pressure to expand the mass of the rubber ring 10 outward from the opening or pocket 11 and thus cause the same toenlarge. Placethe shoe with applied foxing 'in position within the opening 11 and admit to thechamber '20 a pressure medium, such as compressed air, whereby the material of the ring 10 is compressed and moved bodily inward, and the walls 11 of the opening 11 provide pressing faces which are caused to close against the foxing and thus press the same firmlyagainst the portions of the shoe to which it has been previously applied. Durbuckling or shifting of the walls of the opening 11 across the direction in which pressure is applied to the article. It will be noted that those portions of the wall 11 which are to press the shank of the shoe are inwardly inclined at the bottom to more closely con form tot-he shoe. To. carry out this operation there is provided a manifold pipe 23 which connects through branch pipes 24 and 25 to opposite sides of the annular chamber .20. The pipe 23 is attached to a pipe 26 which connects through a three-way valve 27 and pipe 28 to exhausting apparatus (not shown). The pipe 26 also connects through valve 27 to a pipe 29 which leads to a source of air pressure (not shown). An exhaust port 30 in the Valve 27 may be utilized to admit air at atmospheric pressure to the chamber 20, after which the rubber ring 10 willbe neither expanded nor compressed. A handle 31 is operable to control the three positions of the valve 27. bodiment but two inlet connections 24 and 25 are shown to chamber 20, but any necessary number to secure even distribution may be used. f

In order to maintain a pressure tight seal between the ring 10 and the surfaces 12 and 16 during the admission of fluid under pressure to the chamber 20, the outer edges of the ring 10 are providedwith annular lips 32 which tend to spread under pressure and into contact with said surfaces and thereby prevent-leakage. To prevent leakage during exhaustion of the chamber 20, provision is made for similar annular lips 33 formed by cutting away a portion of both the upper and lower surfaces of the ring or block 10, as indicated bythe numeral 34. When air is exhausted from chamber 20 the pressure of atmospheric air on the'lips 33 forces them against surfaces 12 and 16 to prevent leakage past ring 10. .The cutting away of the ring at. 34 also somewhat reduces the vertical thickness ofthe ring and renders it more responsive to pressure changes. In order to prevent buckling of the ring at the points of reduced thickness portions 3 1 of the full thickness are preferably left at spaced points.

For holding the shoe down within the opening 11 of the ring 10 during the pressing operation, there may be provided any suitable means such as the clamp illustrated in V Fig; 1. This clamp includes abridge piece 35 (shown in part only) spanning the cover 15 and having the legs thereof secured to said cover by means of a pair of the fasteners 22. A rod 36 passes through a vertical aperture'in the center of the bridge piece 35 and carries at the lower end thereof a yoke 37 having an open slot 38 in which is pivoted at 41 an equalizing bar 39 equipped atits opposite ends with feet 40. A handle 42 is In the present emcausing the secured to the top of the rod 36 and an expansion spring 43 is interposed between the handle 42, and the bridge piece 35. After inserting the shoe into the opening 11, the handle 42 may be operated to bring the feet to bear against the shoe last and toe of the shoe and thereby hold the shoe during the pressing of the foxing strip. Any other desired means for securing the article during pressing may be used.

toleng-th while the variations in width are roportionately small. In order to take care these variations it is desirable that the pening 11 of the ring 10 be capable of an 'es in shape that is, distending lengthwise a z-.=co-iplislnng this purpose there are proviced within the chamber 20 and at opposite sides of the ring 10, stops or blocks 44 which are substantially arcu'ate in form and areefr'ective to check the expansion of those portions of the disc opposite the side walls of the o ns of the opening 11 may expand freelyto vard the wall 14; in a lengthwise direction and thereby elongate the opening 11 to a considerable extent, the side walls or the opening are allowed to expand only to a desired amount. The blocks 4,4 are spaced from the par-ts 13 21115115 by ribs 4%. For supporting the machine and its controlling devices, there may be provided legs 15 secured to the under side of the platform 13 by fasteners 46. If desired;

the responsiveness of the ring 10 to pressure changes may be further increased by making open]- ring as shown at 47.

in pressing a foxing on ashoe, in the case where theshoe is lar er than the opening 1-1,

the operator turns valve 27 to connect the vacuum pump with the chamber 20, thereby expanding radially outward the ring 10 and enlarging the opening 11 sufii'ciently to place the shoetherein. He then pushes downwardly on the handle 42 to engage the feet 450 with the shoe last and toe of the shoetand tu as the valve to admit pressure fluid to the chamber 26. This causes the ring 10 to con t. there-by contracting the openingll and.

and uniformly press the foxing on the shoe. The valve 2? theiragain moved to connect the vacuum pump with chamber 20., the shoe removed and replaced by another and the op eraticn is repeated. if the shoe is of a size small enough to directly enter the opening 11, it will be unnecessary to first expandthe ring 10. The valve 27 when in its intermediate po sition places chamber 20 in communication with the atmospheric air inlet 30, hence in switching the chamber connections 24 and from the vacuum line to the pressureline, or vice versa, the chamber 20'is necessarily placed in communication with the atmosphere as the Different sizes of shoes vary considerably greater distance than crosswise. For

nenin 11 so that while the toe and heel )or L h -gs of desired shape in the body of the wall 11 of the opening to iirinly f p valve passes through its intermediate position. Th s reduces the load on the vacuum and pressure pumps;

By the use of the present invention, a large T number of sizes can be taken care of on a single machine, and the parts are preferably arranged to press a pair of shoes simultaneously, either by duplication of the entire pressing device or by the provision of a block having two shoe receiving openings therein. Instead of expanding and contracting the ring by pressure fluid any other suitable mechanical means may be employed. Fluid pressed flex- 1ble dia phragm machin es have been prev1ously used for pressing plied up rubber articles to secure better adhesionbetween the plies, but in such machines the actual pressing is accomplished by the fluid and the thin diaphragm acts merely as a restrainer for the fluid, and it is difiicult to secure proper presby a relatively thick mass of material which is rigid enough to impart the desired firm pressure, but at the same time is yielding and resilient enough to properly conform at all points to the part to be pressed.

It will be seen that by my invention an apparatus has been provided for pressing rubber shoe foxings and similar articles, which is simple, ciiicient and easily operated, which can take car of a large number of sizes, and which is economical to build and operate and durable in use.

It is obvious that with the present detailed disclosure numerous modifications will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art, and

I it is not desired to limit the invention otherwise than as required by the prior art. The invention is not to be understood as being limited to a pressing appliance in which the element 10, of rubber or equivalent material,

, completely encircles the articles as obviously 2. A pressing machine comprising a block of resilient material having an opening for the reception of an article to be pressed, means disposed peripherally of the block for actuating it to vary the size of the opening, and means for limiting such variation for part of the opening.

3. A pressing machine comprising a block of resilient material having an opening for.

the reception of an article to be pressed, means disposed peripherally of the block for actuating it to vary the size of the opening, and guide means. engaging the block at opposite sides for preventing lateral buckling ofthe block.

4. A pressing machine comprising a casing having an'opening in its wall, a block of resilient material movable in the casing and having an opening aligned with" said first opening, said blockii orming with the casing a fluid chamber peripherally of the block, means for varying the fluid pressure 1n said chamber, and means carried sealing said chamber.

5. A pressing machine comprising a casing having an opening in its wall, ablock ofresilient materialmovable in the casing and having an opening aligned with said first by the block for opening, said block forming with the casing a fluid chamber peripherally of the block,

means for varying the fluid pressure in said chamber from sub to super atmospherlc, and

means carried by the block for sealing said chamber under either of said conditions.

6. A pressing machine comprising a relatively flat casing having an opening in its wall, a, block of resilient material of lesser area disposed in said casing and forming therewith a chamber peripherally of the block, means for varying thepressure in said chamber, means carried by the block and engaging the casing walls for sealing the cham ber, said block being formed, inwardly of the sealing means, to increase its responsiveness to pressure changes, and an article receiving opening in the block aligned with the casing opening. 7

7. A pressing machine comprising a re-.

silient body having an elongated opening therein adapted to receive a part to be pressed, means disposed peripherally of the body for expanding or contracting the same to thereby expand or contract said opening, and limiting means for causing a proportionately greater lengthening than widening of the opening during variations ofsaid opening.

8. A pressing machine including incombination, a pressure element in the form of a block of resilient material having an opening therein for reception of an article to be pressed, a housing for the block, said housing forming with said block a pressure-tight chamber therearound, while permitting free for exhausting or 9. A pressing machine including in combi-.

nation, a pressure element in the form oia r' block of resilient material having an opening therein for reception of an article to be pressed, a plate upon the surface of which one face of the blo'ck is adapted to rest, a cover mounted upon said plate and having its inner surface in contact with the opposite face of the block, both of saidsuri'aces permitting free sliding of the block, said plate, the cover and the block combining to form a pressure tight chamber around said block, and means applying pressure to said chamber. V

10. A pressingmachine including in combination, a pressure element in the form of a block of resilient material having an opening therein for reception of an article to be pressed, a plate upon the-surface of which the lower face of the block is adapted to rest, a

1 cover mounted upon said plate, means for spacing the inner surface of the cover from the surface of the plate in a manner to closely confine the block between the two surfaces while permitting free sliding of the block, said plate, the cover and the block combining to form a pressuretight chamber around said block, a system of pipe connections communicating with said chamber, and a, valve associated with said system and operable to selectively connect said system to a source of pressure or vacuum or to the atmosphere.

11. A pressing machine including in combination, a pressure element in the form of a block of resilient material having an open' ing therein for reception of an article to be pressed, means for causing the wall stormed by said opening to close upon saidarticle, means for causing said walls to recede from said article, and means for effecting a relatively greater recession at some portions of said Wall than at others.

12. A pressing machine including in combination, a pressure element in the form of a block of resilient material having an opening therein for reception of an article to be 1 )ressed,.means for causing expansion of said block in a manner to enlarge said opening, and means for checking said expansion at predetermined points whereby to alter the proportions of said opening when enlarged.

13. A pressing machine including in combination a pressure element of resilient material in the form of a block having an elongated opening therein for reception of an article to be pressed, means for causing expansion of said block in a manner to enlarge said opening, and a pair of stops disposed on opposite sides of said block in predetermined spaced relation thereto, said stops being located to meet the adjacent portions of the expanding block and hold them'in check whereby to prevent further widening of. said opening while the other portions of the block continue to ex-- pand and effect a lengthening of said opening guided, and fluid-pressure means for shifting 7 said element in said housing. 15. In an apparatus for pressing rubber articles, in combination, an element of sizevariable composition provided with an open- 7 ing of the shape approximating theshape of i the article to be treated, a housing in which said element is housed, and fluid pressure means for applying force to said element to enlarge and contract said opening whereby to receive, compress and release the article introduced in said openin 16. In an apparatus for pressing rubber articles, in combination, a vulcanized rubber element for engaging the article, a member in which said element is bodily shiftably mounted, and means for applying sub-atmospheric and super-atmospheric pressures to said element to, shift it and to press the element against the article. I

17. In an apparatus for pressing rubber articles, in combination, an element of size variable material provided with an opening for the article to be pressed, and means for applying force in the plane of saidmaterial to contract 'or enlarge said opening.

Signed at New Haven, county of New Haven, State of Connecticut, this 11th day of July, 1927. EUGENE E. OLEMENTS. 

